Tributes for May 12

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Frankie Laura (Erdman) Becker

March 10, 1932-May 9, 2013

Age: 81

Residence: Greeley

During the coldest recorded day in March 1932, at the height of a blizzard in Sterling, Colo., Frankie was delivered at home by the hands of her father. Frankie was the second of five children born to Frank and Valeta Erdman.

Frankie graduated from high school and joined the Women’s Army Corps, where she was trained and was later stationed in Fort Belvoir, Va. While there, she met and married Ronald D. Sansone, and with him gave birth to her five children. Following their discharge from the service, Frankie and Ron moved to New Jersey to raise their family.

For the next 25 years, Frankie was a loving mother and devoted her life tending to the needs of her children. Frankie parented with a gentle hand and a sense of humor. After 30 years of marriage, Frankie divorced and returned to her hometown in Colorado, where she helped care for her aging parents. While in Sterling, she worked at the library of North Eastern Junior College.

In 1983, Frankie moved to Greeley, where she met and would later marry John W. Becker in January 1985. Employed by Northeastern Home Health Care, Frankie provided in-home assistance to seniors in the Greeley area for more than three years.

Frankie is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 28 years, John W. Becker of Greeley; her five children and two stepchildren, Rhonda and Jim Calico of Pittstown, N.J., Laura and Bruce Davis of Jefferson, Md., Richard Sansone of Greeley, Craig and Susanna Sansone of Cincinnati, Ohio, Joseph T. Sansone of Vancouver, Joe Allen Becker of Greeley and Tammy Lynn (Becker) Loucks of Oneonta, N.Y.; seven grandchildren, Cheryl Boden, Joseph P. Sansone, Kristen A. Davis, Michael Sansone, Geoffrey M. Davis, Evanthia Sansone and Marianna Sansone; and her three great-grandchildren, Calvin, Ashlynn and Demitri. She is also survived by her brothers and sisters, Don Erdman of Aurora, Roma and Perry Mason of Sterling, Colo., Janet and Jack Wanstreet of Santa Anna, Calif., and Butch Erdman of Ravanna, Neb.; as well as many nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held from 3-7 p.m. Monday, May 13, 2013, at the Allnutt Macy Chapel. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 14, 2013, at the Allnutt Macy Chapel, with interment at Sunset Memorial Gardens and a reception in the Allnutt Reception Center.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Honor Flight program, in care of Allnutt Funeral Service, 702 13th St., Greeley, CO 80631. Friends may view the online obituary and send condolences at www.allnutt.com.

Raymond J. Bergstrom

Aug. 16, 1927-May 7, 2013

Age: 85

Residence: Fort Lupton

Raymond J. Bergstrom, 85, of Fort Lupton, passed away May 7, 2013, at his home. He was born Aug. 16, 1927, in Fort Lupton to Joseph and Olga (Fischer) Bergstrom.

Ray attended schools in Keenesburg and graduated in 1945. He later married Deloris Schmidt on Dec. 14, 1952, in Hudson.

Ray enlisted in the ROTC program in Keenesburg and attended college in Brookings, S.D. He spent one year in the Air Force and transferred to the Navy, where he spent two years. He received the World War II Victory Medal, American Area Medal and Asiatic-Pacific Theatre Medal for his service.

Ray has lived on the same farm — northeast of Fort Lupton near Hudson — for his entire life, where he owned and operated Bergstrom Dairy. The dairy was his first love and the passion of his life. He was a farmer and dairyman by heart, who also enjoyed fishing.

William “Bill” F. Kipp Jr.

William “Bill” Frederick Kipp Jr., of Keenesburg died Thursday, May 9, 2013, at his home. He was born July 18, 1929, to William F. and Daisy L. (Dean) Kipp in Keenesburg.

Bill’s family settled in Keenesburg in 1916. His father helped layout and develop the town. Bill attended Keenesburg public schools. He served in the Navy during the Korean War from Nov. 20, 1950-Aug. 19, 1954. He served on the U.S.S. Clearwater County, LST-602.

After his service in the Navy, Bill worked in Alaska, and then ranched on the Fleischmann Ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyo. He returned to Keenesburg in the ‘70s, and began his career with Weld County as a road grader operator. After more than 20 years with the county, he retired. Bill enjoyed his daily trips to the Coors Energy Coal Mine. He was known to many as the “mine inspector.” Bill was very well-liked and never met a stranger. Always one to tell a story, Bill was a history buff with a wealth of knowledge. He remained sharp as a tack all through his years.